CCF, Kashmir refutes media report regarding decrease in
J&K's forest cover
Says forest cover of J&K showed significant increase in last
decade
Srinagar,
February 03: The India State
of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023 highlighted a substantial increase in forest cover
which showed a rise of 34.78 square kilometers in the region's
forest area compared to the 2021 assessment.
The report reveals that J&K has
shown an increase of 398.12 Sq Kms in forest cover in one decade from 2013 to
2023.
According to India State of Forest
Report forest cover of J&K in 2013 was 20,948.27 Sq Kms while in 2023
the forest cover increased to 21,346.39 Sq Kms.
Irfan Rasool, the Chief Conservator
of Forests for Kashmir, (CFFK) highlighted these positive findings while
addressing the media. He stated that J&K boasts the highest number of
forest types in the country, an impressive 43, along with the highest
average growing stock of 296.22 cubic meters per hectare and the highest
estimated carbon stock of 174.10 tons per hectare.
He strongly refuted recent media
reports that claimed a decrease of 40.61 square kilometers in J&K's forest
cover. He termed these reports as inaccurate and not based on the quoted ISFR
2023. "These reports are misleading and do not reflect the actual findings
of the ISFR," he stated.
The CCFK stressed the importance of
thoroughly studying the ISFR report before drawing any conclusions. He said
that understanding the methodology used in the assessment is crucial for
accurately interpreting the results. He urged media outlets to exercise caution
and ensure their reporting aligns with the official data and its proper
context.
CCFK further emphasised the J&K
Forest Department's commitment to mitigating the impact of forest land
diversion. The transfer of forest land for non-forest activities is regulated
by the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980.
The legislation mandates that user
agencies proposing to use forest land to provide compensation for the
loss.
The funds received from user
agencies through compensatory afforestation and NPV charges are utilised to
rehabilitate the degraded forests or carry out plantation on identified
non-forestry land.
As part of these efforts, the
J&K Forest Department under the Compensatory Afforestation Management
Planning Authority (CAMPA), has till date successfully rehabilitated a total of
96,243 hectares of degraded forests and has planted 64.176 million trees to
compensate for forest land diversions.